Strand twisting apparatus



March 17, 1936. R. R. NYDEGGER 3 6 STRAND TWISTING APPARATUS Filed Jan.10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IllHlllll II I] i wvnvrok I March 17, 1936. R.R. NYDEGGER' I STRAND TWISTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet. 2

March 17, 1936. ,v N DEG E 2,034,268

STRAND TWISTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m3 1 m. v/2/ Aawmm Patented Mar. 17', 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRANDTWISTING APPARATUS Application January 10, 1935, Serial N... isa

13 Claims.

This invention relates to strand twisting apparatus, and moreparticularly to an apparatus for twisting strands together to form acomposite group. I The invention is particularly applicable for use inthe manufacture of grouped electrical conductors, for example, conductorquads, i. e., a

group of four conductors intended as a component'unit of amulti-conductor telephone cable. in In the forming of such quads it hasbeen the practice, in some instances, to twist two single conductorstrands to form a pair and then twist two such pairs to form a quad.Hretofore, in some cases, each twisted pair and/or quad has beenindividually bound with a continuous cotton thread helically applied inorder, among other reasons, to aid in causing the two conductors of thepair and/or the two pairs of the quad, as the case may be, to be of thesame length, which no is desirable in the production of quadded cablehaving the electrical characteristics required. For a completedisclosure of the specific construction and functions of a quadded cablereference is made to U. S. Patent to Anderegg and Mougey, No. 1,271,824.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus fortwisting a plurality of strands into a plurality of units, without thereferred to binding operation, and while maintaining the length of thestrands of each unit the same, twist the units into a single group.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention as applied to theforming'of conductor quads of the hereinbefore described type, there isprovided an apparatus comprising means for supplying four electricalconductors, means for grouping the four conductors together in pairs,means for twisting the conductors of each pair together, and twistingtogether the twisted pairs 40 of conductors to form a quad. Each pair ofconductors is moved about a cone-shaped path while moving towards itsapex, the individual pair and the quad twists being, effected closetogether and adjacent the apex of the cone-shaped path. The

pair twists are formed at a point so near the point of quad formationthat the relative positions and thereby the length of twist of theconductors of each pair will remain the same and not be disturbed beforethey are held by the quad twist. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention the motion of the twisting mechanism is entirely continuous.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 55 will more fully appearfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of oneform. of a strand twisting apparatus embodying the features of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of a portionof Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryplan sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical sectional view takenon theline 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an irregular central vertical sectional view taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of a twistingapparatus of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a reduced plan sectional view across the entire apparatustaken on the line 1-! of Fig. 8 is an enlarged inverted detail plansectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 6. 1

Referring now to the drawings wherein only such portions of theapparatus have been shown which are essential to an understanding of theinvention, and particularly to Fig. 1, a portion of the stationary frameof the apparatus is indicated at in and journaled thereon is acontinuous- 30 1y rotating flier comprising a vertical shaft It andspaced alined horizontal cross bars I! and i3. Between the ends of thecross bars i2 and id at opposite sides of the shaft H are rotatableyokes l6 and If, each yoke having secured to the opposite ends thereof astud shaft l8 which is journaled in suitable bearings provided in theends of the cross bars. In the operation of the apparatus the fliercomprising the shaft H and the cross bars l2 and I3 is rotated by meansof meshing beveled gears 39 and secured to the shaft H and adrivingshaft 23-, respectively, the latter shaft being rotated from asuitable source of power (not shown). During the rotation of the flierthe yokes l6 and H revolve therewith and also rotate on their own axesby means of the following gear. train. Secured to the stationary frameit and coaxial with the shaft II is a gear 24 which at diametricallyopposite points meshes with gears 25 secured to the lower ends of theshafts 26 journaled in the cross bar l3, the upper ends of the shaftshaving fixed thereto gears 21 which mesh with gears 30 secured to theshafts I8 fixed to the lower ends of the yokes l8 and I1. Rotatablysupported in any well known manner upon each of the yokes l6 and I is apair of conductor supply reels 3| and 32, respectively. Insulatedconductors 33' and 34 from the supply reels 3| and 32, respectively, arecontinuously drawn upwardly by a capstan 31 and delivered to a suitabletake-up mechanism (not shown).

The conductors 33 and 34 are each subjected to a desired constanttension as they are withdrawn from the reels 3| and 32 by any usual 10form of tension control desired (not shown).

It is to be understood that the capstan 31 is driven in definiterelation with the rotation of the flier shaft II and the yokes lli andII by means (not shown) so that the proper number 5 of twists per unitlength of conductor will be introduced into each pair of conductors 33and 34 to be twisted and into the two pairs of twisted conductors informing the quad. The details of the mentioned tension control deviceand means for driving the capstan have-been omitted from the disclosurefor the sake of simplifying the same, since they form no part of thepresent invention .and are not believed necessary to a completeunderstanding thereof.

- The type of quadded cable for which the apparatus illustrated is setup to produce is one in which the adiacent pairs of twisted conductorsand 34 have different lays or iengths'ottwistandeachpairistwistedinaieftehand so directional the pair twistsbeing indicat'd by the arrows associated will: the

yoke: [Isl-lid l'l (P18. 1), 8nd the twistsin'the-'inia'dbeingtshorterthanthetwistsinthepairs constituting the quad, thequad twist being in as a right-hand direction, the direction of the quadtwistbeing indicated by the arrow associatedwith the flier shaft H. Thelength of twist put in the individual pairs and. the length of the Ftwists between the two pairs maybe controlled 4 as. desired by thesubstitution of the proper size gears in the gear train including thepairs of gears 25, 21, 33, I3 and 23'.

In the particular set up of the apparatus as shown the conductors 33 aretobe twisted with 45 a shorter lay or length of twist than theconductors 34; therefore, in operation the yoke It will be rotatedat ahigher rate of speed than that of the 'yoke Between the supply reels andthe capstan each 50 pair of traveling conductors 33 and 34 is associatedwith a mechanism which first gro p the conductors into'individual pairs,then twists the conductors of each pair together and immediatelythereafter maintains the relative positions 55 of the individualconductors of each pair and of each twisted pair relative to the othertwisted pair, followed by the immediate twisting of the twisted pairstogether to form a quad. Each pair of conductors 33 and 34 in theirpassage 00 from the supply reels 3| and 32, respectively, up to thepoint of twisting. the twisted pairs into a quad is handled in a similarmanner, except for the length of twists put in the individual (Fig.2),the shaft having fixed to its upper end surface a two-holed polisher 33(Figs. 2 and 3). A gear 43 provided with an axial shouldered aperturesurrounds the polisher]. 1s and the upper end of the shaft l3, whichextends above the upper surface of the flier frame I 2, the gear and thepolisher being secured to the shaft i3 for rotation therewith at auniform speed by screws 4| which pass through apertures in the polisherandare threaded into the 5 upper end surface of the shaft I8. .Fixed tothe flier cross bar I2 is a bracket 44 supporting directly above thegear 4|! a freely rotatable idler sheave 45 which'is carried with theflier about the axis of the flier shaft The two conduc- 1o tors 33continuously drawn from the suwly reels 3| are grouped together inparallel spaced relation as they enter the lower end of the'aperture 33of the shaft i3 and pass through the holes of the polisher 33- and arecontinuously and unl- 15 formly twisted in a left hand direction alongthat portion of the conductors between the polisher and the point ofcontact of the conductors withthe periphery of the idler sheave 45 overwhich the conductors are drawn as the polisher 20 rotates about its ownaxis with the yoke I. while revolving bodily with the flier about theaxis of the flier-shaft Ii.

Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft H and secured at 46 (Fig. 2) forrotation therewith: is'a casting it. At diametri ally we points thecasting "is formed with angularly arrangedbearings within each of whichis mtatabl! carried a" shaft 43 formed with a shoul- (l'lgaldsndii).

to rotatesviththe shaftl! within an enlarged upper of the aperture oftheshaft is Y a two-holed polisher II. At-its lower end the shaftextends into a recess formed in'the casting 41 andhas secured theretoa'gear I2. The two-holed polisher BI is driven at the same speed and inthesame direction as the twoholed polisher 33 by means of gears 33 andI4 meshing with the gears and I2 'flxed to the polishers 33 and II,respectively, and a universal 4o shaft 55 interconnecting the gears 33and 53, the arrangement of the gears I3 and 54 relative to the gears 40and 52 and their ratios being such that thepolishers are driven atthesame 7 speed and in the same direction. The lower .45 portion of theuniversal shaft Ills iournaled in a bearing 33 carried upon the fliercross bar l2 and the upper portion of the shaftis'journaledinabearing53fixedtothecasting4L. Since the two-holedpolishers 33 and ii are driven at the same speed and in the samedirection the twists continuously being formed in the pair of conductors33 betweenthe polisher 33 and the point of contact of the conductorswith the periphery of the idler sheave 43 are continu- 55 ously removedupon the conductors passing from the sheave so that the conductors maybe drawn through the two-holed polisher 3|, whereupon I they are againtwisted with the desired helix, in

a'manner to be presently described. It will be observed that the twistjust described is only incidental to the use of the sheave 4!. which isemployed to prevent the occurrence of a sharp bend in the conductors asthey emerge from the polisher. If thesb'eave 43 should be 66 omitted theconductors would travel in an untwisted'condition from the polisher 3 3to the polisher 5|. 'I'he slight twist, however, which results from theuse of the sheave 45 is immediately removed above'the sheave and doesnot interfere 70 with feeding the conductors at a uniform tension andspeed of travel to the actual twisting apparatus.

After emerging from the two-holed polisher II the untwisted pair ofconductors 33 are. drawn 7:;

over the-periphery of a positively driven wheel 60 (Figs. 4 and 5)provided with two conduct-or receiving grooves GI separated bya centraltongue 62, one of the conductors passing into each of the grooves. Thewheel 60 is secured to a rotatable shaft 65 having a bearing in thecasting 41. The wheels 63, one for each of the pair of conductors '33and 34, are positioned in horizontal alinement with their peripheriesbarely spaced apart with the vertical axis of the flier shaft IIalinedcentrally therebetween, the adjacent inner portions of the wheelsturning in a horizontal slot 66 formed in the casting 41 and extendingfrom one side to the other side thereof. Secured to the shaft 65 is abevel gear 67 which meshes with a bevel gear 33 fixed to the upper endof the universal shaft 55, which as hereinbefore described is drivenfrom the motion of the yoke IS. The gear drive to the wheel 60 from theyoke it is such that the wheel makes two revolutions to one revolutionof the yoke, the direction of its rotation being indicated by the arrows(Figs. 1, 2 and 5). The other wheel 60 over which the twisted pair ofconducfofi 34 are drawn also makes two revolutions to one revolution of'its associated yoke II but as hereinbefore described the yoke I1 isdriven at a slower rate of speed than that of the yoke I6 due to thelonger length of twist being formed in the conductors 34 than that ofthe conductors 33 and therefore the wheels 60 are driven at differentspeeds, the left hand wheel being rotated at a higher rate of speed thanthe right hand wheel.

In the continuous advancement of the two conductors 33 that portionthereof between the polisher 5| which is adjacent the apex of aconeshaped path about which the conductors move while travelingupwardly, and the point of contact of the conductors with the peripheryof the wheel 60, which is substantially at the apex of the cone-shapedpath, will be continuously and uniformly twisted in a left handdirection as the polisher rotates about its own axis while revolvingbodily with the flier about the axis of the flier shaft ll.

Reciprocable in a slot 1 I formed in the wheel 60 at one side of theaxis thereof is a finger I2, the slot being centered between the sidesof the wheel (Fig. 4) and extending at its outer end through the tongue62 which separates the two grooves of the wheel so that the finger maybe advanced outside the periphery of the wheel as shown. The tongue 62in addition to its being cut away to accommodate the described movementof the finger I2 is also cut away to form a gap I3 in the tongue for acertain distance above'the finger I2, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, for apurpose to be described hereinafter. At one side the slot II extends, asindicated at I4, through the side of r the wheel 60. Integral with thefinger I2 and extending through the slot I4 of the wheel 60 is a guideboss I5 which rides on an endless stationary cam surface I8 formed in adepression in a cover plate I9 fixed at (Figs. 2 and 4) to the casting41, the slotted side surface of the wheel having a rotary sliding motionon theadjacent side surface of the cover plate. A compression spring 8|having its opposite ends engaged in depressions formed in the finger I2and the wheel 6|) constantly acts to hold the guide boss I5 of thefinger riding against the cam surface I8.

In the continuous rotation of the wheel 60 the guide boss I5 of thefinger I2 riding against the stationary cam surface I8 serves tosuccessively advance and retract the finger in such a manner polisher 5|to a position wherein its outer end is flush with the periphery of thewheel when itis in a sub stantially horizontal position pointing towardsthe vertical center line of the apparatus.

Formed in the casting 3!- at its upper end and centered with the axis ofthe flier shaft H is an aperture 32 which at its lower end is opento theslot 66 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5). Carried in the aperture .82 is a. one-holepolisher secured in position at 85 (Fig. 4). The lower end of thepolisher is reduced in diameter and extends downwardly into the slot 33and between the wheels 63, the lower 'end thereof lying close to theperipheries of the wheels. The twisted pairs of conductors 33 and 3dimmediately after passing from the grooves of the wheels 66 converge atthe lower end of the one-hole polisher 85, pass through the hole of'thepolisher, the aperture 82 of the casting ti, and around the capstan 31,and thence to the takeup mechanism (not shown). In their passage fromthe grooves of the wheels 60 and through the hole of the polisher 85the" twisted pairs of conductors 33 and 34 are continuously and uni-.

formly twisted together in a right hand direction to form a quad 811,due to the wheels 30 revolving bodily with the fiier about the axis ofthe polisher which is centered with the axis of the flier. v

It is believed from the foregoing description that it is completelyadvanced lust afterit moves past the polisher 5i and is completelyretracted that the manner of continuously forming the pair twists inthat portion of each pair of traveling conductors 33 and 34 between thepolishers 5i and their engagement with the peripheries of the wheels 60as the conductors are moved about the cone-shaped path and adjacent itsapex and thereafter upon the pair twists moving from the engagement withthe wheels being twisted together to form the quad twist will 'beclearly understood.

As hereinbefore described the wheel 60 makes two revolutions to one ofthe yoke I6,.-and the same relative to the two-holed poisher 5i which iscontinuously driven in synchronism with the yoke and therefore thefinger I2 and the gap I3 in the tongue 62 of the wheel will pass thetwice for each rotation of the polisher,

or once for each of polisher rotation. Thus it will be apparent that bysynchronizing the rotation of the polisher 5| with the movement of thefinger I2 and the gap I3 past the polisher,

the successive cross-over points of the twisted conductors 33 producedby the polisher may be made to fall into the gap of the wheel 60. Acomplete twist of the conductors it will be obvious includes twocrossings thereof, one being produced for each 180 rotation of thepolisher 5|. The advancement of the finger I2 associated with the leftwheel 60 to the position shown in the drawings in timed relation withthe crossing of the traveling conductors so that the finger is insertedbetween the conductors in timed relation with and immediately below thecrossing point thereof insures that the cross-over point of theconductors willpass into the gap I3.

The relative positions of the two holes of the polisher 5| and the wheel60 are such that when the crossing point of the conductors 33 is intangential engagement with a surface 88 of the wheel along the gap I3with the finger inserted between the conductors below the crossingpoint,

the conductors between the polisher and fingerwhichshowstheposlttcnofthepolisherhoiesandthedirectionofrotatlono'fthepolhhcnit'willbenotedthsttheeonductorshavenotyetingthesuccessivecrosshmpointsofthetwists" imtil theyarevery close to theprint where the twistedpairs are twisted together toform thequadl'lthetendencyoftherelativepositionsof the'conductors of each pairand of each twisted pair relative to the companion twisted pair to bedisturbed is reduced to a minimum and consequently the length of twistof the conductors for eachofthepairsofthequadwillremainuniform.

Since in the operation of the apparatus, as hereinbeiore described.risht hand wheel I isrotated ataslowerrateof speedthantheleft handwheel, due to the longer length of twist being formed in the conductorsthan that of the conductors 33, the right hand wheel has not advanced inits rotation to the same angular position as its companion wheel 63 andconsequent- 1y its finger I2 and the gap I3 have not reached the sameposition relative to the path of the conductors 34 as that shown for thefinger I2 and the gap 73 of the left hand wheel 0.

In Figs. 6 to 9,..inc1usive, there is shown fragmentarily an embodimentof the twisting apparatus of this invention wherein polishers Ill.polishers llll, which it will be noted are arranged corresponding infunction to the polishers SI of the apparatus previously described, areinter! mlttently driven instead of continuously as are the polisheiisii.

In this second embodiment, referring particularly to Fig. 6, there areemployed a continuously rotating flier carrying a pair of rotary yokes,and acapstan, all drivenin amannersimilartothat of the first embodiment.Ony such portions-of the flier. and one of the yokes is illustrated asare necessary to an understanding of the operation of the apparatus. Anupper horizontal flier cross bar, which isfixedto afiler shaft III,

is indicated at 192 and iournaled therein at its outer end is a studshaft I fixed at its lower end to the upper end of a yoke I04, the upperend of the shaft extending a short distance above the upper surface ofthe bar. Secured to the upper end of the shaft Ill above the bar I", asindicated at I95, is a circular shouldered centrally apertured plate I"having formed in its peripheral surface at diametrically opposite pointstwo gear teeth It, the peripheral surface of the plate between the twoteeth being smooth. Carried by the plate Ill within the aperture is atwo-hofed polisher I. Fixed to the upper surface of the plate I". asindicated at III, is a bar III which atopposite endsisfiush withtheperipheral surface of the plate. the end surfacesofthebareachhavingi'oi'niedthereinthreegeas' teeth II4, the centertoothateachendoithe bar being alined with the diametrically oppositeteethofthepiate. Atibcenterthebar III isenlargedandprovidedwithanaperture whichiseenteredwiththeapertureintheplate III andanaperture lliintheshafti'l.Inthe operation of the apparatus conductors I and IIIaredrawnfrolntwosupplyrech (notshown) carriedbythe 'yokeIl4andacompanionyokc (not shown) at theopposite'sideofthefiiershaft IIIand through the alined-apertm'es and the two-holed poiishers Illfby thecapstan (not Arranged at the right side otthe plate I'IIito-meshwithtbeteeth li4oithe'barlll isapinion Ill having its oppositeendsiournaledat III andlflinthefliercrossbar II! andabracket--- I28fixedto thefiicrshaft ill,respectively. The 10, pinionIllisformedwithaixteethhavhmtho lower half 01 two diametrically Wteteeth cut away as indicated at I24 =(I'ig. 8). Secured atIIItotheupperend'of-the fliershaft iii and rotatingtherewithisacastingI". 'l'ixedatlsliltothecastingiilisabearingblocklfl. At

diametrically opposite points "the. block III is formed with angularlyarranged bearings within each of which is rotatably carried a shaft Iii.The shaft III is operatively connected to a re-,

duced upper end of the pinion II. which extends from the bearing bracketI23 by a universal shaft 132. At its upper end the-shaft III carries agear I34 which meshes with a similar gear Ill formed on the lower end ofa rotary holder Ill 25 for the two-holed polisher I00, the holder beingjournaled in a bearing arranged at an angle simi-v lar to that of thebearing for the shaft iii, the

bearing being formed .on the casting Ill. A

collar II'I surrounding and fixed to the holder so I36 within aslot inthe casting I28. serves to maintain the holder from longitudinalmovement. The two polishes holders I33 are formed with 4 axial aperturesI38 through which the conductorsiiiandlilpassafterbeingthrcadedthroughthe 35 holes of the polishers IIII, the conductors thereafter being threaded through the holes oi theclose to each other adjacent the apex of-a coneshaped path about whichthe conductors move axisofthefiiershaftllil.

Securedin anaxial depression I39 intheupper end of the casting I28 is afixture I42 having its lower end bifurcated and carrying between the 5while travelling upwardly and at either side of the vi'urcatlons andadjacent the upper ends of the converging poliahers I00, which extendintothe onto the peripheral surfaces of the rollers I48,

which is the apex of the'co'ne-shaped patlsabout which the conductorsmove, and through the onehole polishers I45 and around the capstan andthence tothe take-up mechanism (not shown). so

. 'flie operation of this last described embodiment of the invention,assuming that the flier shaft III and the yoke: Il4jbodily revolvingtherewith while rotating about their own axes are continuously driven inthe direction of the g5 arrows, as sbown'in Fig. "I, at predeterminedspeeds in accordance with the respective pairand quad twists beingformed in the conductors Iii and III, and that the capstan (not shown)is continuously drawing the conductors through the apparatus attbedesired speed..is asfollows:

During each complete rotation of the bar III,- which rotatescontinuously with yoke I44 and the two-holed polisher I, while revolving4 hodiiyabout-theasisofthefilershaft IlLthe set of three gear teeth ateach end of the bar move into meshing relation with the upper portionoi. the six tooth gear pinion I I8 and as each end or the bar moves pastthe pinion it is rotated 180, which motion is transmitted by means ofthe universal shaft I32 and gears I34 and I35 to the two-holed polisherI00, so that the latter polisher is given two half turns, or 180rotative movements, during each complete rotation of the polisher I09.The pinion H8 is prevented from rotating during the periods in which thetoothed ends of the bar I I I are not in driving engagement with theupper half of the pinion by the smooth peripheral surface of thecircular plate I01 riding in one or the other of the spaces formed bythe removal of the two diametrically opposite teeth at the lower portionof the pinion H8 which is clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Thus as each pair of continuously traveling conductors H6 and Ill moveupwardly between the two-holed polishers I09 and I00 which arecontinuously and intermittently rotated, respectively, while revolvingbodily about the axis of the flier shaft IN, the pairs of'conductors arecontinuously being half twisted and then intermittently untwisted sothat they may be drawn through the holes of the polisher I00.Simultaneously therewith the conductors of each pair as they passthrough the polishers I00 and before they engage the peripheries of therollers I43 are twisted together with a desired lay or length of twistduring the continued intermittent rotation of the polishers I00 abouttheir own axes while revolving bodily with the flier about the axis ofthe flier shaft IOI As the continuously traveling twisted pairs ofconductors I I6 and I I1 pass from the peripheries of the rollers I43and through the holes of the polishers I45 they are twisted together toform a quad I50 due to the rollers revolving bodily with the flier aboutthe axis of the polishers I45 which are centered with the axis of theflier. There is thus produced a quadded cable I50 which consists of fourparallel conductors, each pair of which is crossed successively atone-half of the desired lay or twist and such twist being immediatelysecured by the quad twist results in identical exposures of the fourconductors to one another. Therefore, any tendency of the relativepositions of the conductors of each pair and of each twisted pairrelative to the companion twisted pair to be disturbed is reduced to aminimum since the quad twist is produced immediately after the formingof the pair twists and consequently the length of the conductors foreach pair and of the pairs of the quad will remain the same.

In each of the embodiments of twisting apparatus of this inventiondescribed hereinbeiore a plurality oi strands may be twisted togetherinto a plurality of individual groups and the groups twisted togetherinto a composite group in such a manner that the length and relationshipof the strands of each group are maintained uniform without the use of abinding. The maintenance of a definite lineal relation between thestrands constituting a pair is an essential requisite in the productionof quadded cable having the electrical characteristics desired.

While the invention has been described with particular reference toquadded cable it will be understood that the invention is. capable ofother applications and that modificationscan be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of 5 What is claimed is:

1. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of rotatable elements, aplurality of sources oil supply of strand material carried by each ofsaid rotatable elements, means for moving the strands from said suppliesand assembling them into individual groups and causing the strands ofeach group to move about a cone-shaped path and toward its apex, meansadjacent said apex for rotating the strands of each group to twist themtogether on the slope of the cone-shaped path adjacent its apex, meansfor causing said supply carrying elements and said twisting means torotate the same number of revolutions per unit of time, and meansadjacent the apex for twisting said groups together to form a singlegroup.

2. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of rotatable elements,two sources of supply of strand material carried by each of saidrotatable elements, means for moving the strands from said supplies andassembling them into individual pairs and causing the strands of eachpair to move about a cone-shaped path and toward its apex, meansadjacent said apex for rotating the strands of each pair to twist themtogether on the slope of the cone-shaped path adjacent its apex, meansfor causing said supply carrying elements and said twisting means torotate the same number of revolutions per unit of time, and meansadjacent the apex for twisting said pairs together to form a quad.

3. In a strand twisting apparatus, means for continuously twisting'aplurality of strands together, means intermittently movable intoengagement with the strands immediately behind the cross over points ofthe strands for maintaining the relative positions of the twistedstrands, and means for actuating said intermittently movable means intimed relation with the forming of the twists in the strands.

4. In a strand twisting apparatus, means for twisting a plurality ofstrands together to form a plurality of units, members intermittentlymovable into engagement with the strands of each unit immediately behindthe cross over points of the strands for maintaining the relativepositions of the strands of each unit, means for actuating said membersin timed relation with the forming of the twists of each unit, and meansfor twisting said units together to form a single group.

5. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of sources of supply ofstrand material, means for continuously drawing ofi strands from saidsupplies and twisting them together, members intermittently movable intoan advanced position in engagement with the moving twisted strandsimmediately behind the cross over points thereof and movablelongitudinally therewith for a. predetermined distance for maintainingthe relative positions of the twisted strands, and means for advancingand withdrawing said members in timed relation with the drawing ofispeed of the strands and the forming of the twists therein.

6. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of sources of supply ofstrand material, means for continuously drawing ofl strands from saidnally therewith for a predetermined distance for maintaining therelative positions of the twisted strands, and means for advancing andwithdrawing said members in timed relation with the drawing 01! speed oithe strands and the forming of the twists therein.

7. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of rotatable elements,'two sources of supply of strand material carried by each of saidrotatable elements, .means for rotating said elements to twist togetherthe strands from said supplies into I individual pairs, means forcausing the pairs to travel towards each other, means for twisting saidpairs together to form a single group, said pair and group twist beingeffected in close proximity, members arranged between the points atwhich the pair and group twists occur intermittently movable intoposition between the strands of each pair innnediately behind the crossover points of the strands for maintaining the relative positions of thestrands 01 each pair, and

means for actuating said members in timed relation with the forming ofthe twists of each pair.

8. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality of sources of supply ofstrand material, means for continuously drawing of! strands from saidsupplies and twisting them together, rotatable grooved means in thegrooves of which the portions of each moving strand between successivecross over points of the twisted strands travel, said rotatable groovedmeans having a gap in the peripheral portion between the grooves thereofin which successive cross over points oi the twisted strands travel formaintaining the relative positions 0! the twisted strands, and means forrotating said grooved means in timed relation with the drawing of!speedofthe strands and the forming of the twists therein.

9. In a strand twisting apparatus, a plurality oi! sources of supply ofstrand material, means for continuously drawing of! strands from saidsupoi sources of supply of strand material, means for continuouslydrawing off strands from said supplies and twisting them together, awheel having a plurality of peripheral strand guiding grooves in whichportions or each moving strand between successive cross over points 01'the twisted strands travel, said wheel having a gap in the peripheralportion between the grooves thereof in which successive cross overpoints or the twisted strands travel, an element intermittently movableinto position between the moving twisted strands immediately behindsuccessive 1 cross over points thereof and traveling therewith for apredetermined distance for maintaining the relative positions of thetwisted strands, and means for actuating said element in timed relationwith the drawing of! speed of the strands and the forming of the twiststherein.

11. In a strand twisting machine, means for drawing strand materiali'rom a .plurality oi sources, means for mounting said sources forrotation about an axis extending in the direction of withdrawal of thestrands, means located at I a point remote from said sources forrotating the strands about each otherto twist them, and means causingthe last mentioned means and said sources to rotate the same number ofrevolutions per unit of time.

12. In a strand twisting machine. means for drawing strand material froma plurality of sources, means for mounting said sources for rotationabout an axis extending in the direction of, withdrawal oi the material,means rotatable about said, axis in unison with the rotation of saidsources having apertures for individually guiding each of the strandswhile being drawn from said sources, means located at a pointremote fromsaid sources for rotating the strands about each other to twist them,and means causing said guiding means and said twisting means'to rotatethe same number of revolutions per unit of time. i

13. In a strand twisting machine, means for drawing material from aplurality of sources to form a group, means for mounting said sourcesfor rotation about an axis extending in the direction of withdrawal ofthe strands, means located at a point remote from said sources forrotating the strands about each other to twist them, means for causingthe last mentioned means and said sources to rotate the same number ofrevolutions per unit of time, and means for twisting another group ofstrands, guiding them to the twisted strands first mentioned andtwisting the two groups together at a point near said first twistingmeans.

1 ROLAND R. NYDEGGER.

